Lauterec
Member
Now that I have decided to go ahead with the magnum swap on my '78 Dodge Magnum, next is what to do with the transmission. The factory 727 3 speed functions fine besides having a delay in shifting until it warms up, which I heard is as simple as changing the fluid out. But the ol' 3 speed isn't doing me any gas mileage favors going down the highway, and I think the trans currently mated to the magnum, the 518 four speed would be a solid upgrade for chugging out those extra miles. My concern however is that when I received the van it held no where near the minimum line for automatic fluid. It still goes into gear after adding fluid but it's pretty questionable driving it, sometimes it takes way longer then it should to get into a gear. I am also hoping the remedy could be a total flush of the old fluid and adding new, but it looks more like a rebuild to me.
That leaves me with the option of buying a $200 flexplate to pair it with an inferior transmission and leaving the driveshaft alone, or leaving the 518 the way it is right now and not even take it off the magnum. That likely means cutting the driveshaft. I assume it means messing around with linkages and potentially rebuilding the trans later. Or I could get it rebuilt when I have the money to do so, or I could just buy a different trans altogether. I wouldn't mind a manual but the 78-79 Magnums never came with anything but the 727 and I wouldn't even know where to start with a clutch pedal and things of that nature so I am leaning towards working with what I got now. So many questions. I would appreciate any advice. I again am looking for cheapest and most reliable but I would rather spend extra to do it the better way, just having trouble figuring out what that is.
That leaves me with the option of buying a $200 flexplate to pair it with an inferior transmission and leaving the driveshaft alone, or leaving the 518 the way it is right now and not even take it off the magnum. That likely means cutting the driveshaft. I assume it means messing around with linkages and potentially rebuilding the trans later. Or I could get it rebuilt when I have the money to do so, or I could just buy a different trans altogether. I wouldn't mind a manual but the 78-79 Magnums never came with anything but the 727 and I wouldn't even know where to start with a clutch pedal and things of that nature so I am leaning towards working with what I got now. So many questions. I would appreciate any advice. I again am looking for cheapest and most reliable but I would rather spend extra to do it the better way, just having trouble figuring out what that is.
